Handgun for making cut pile fabrics and the like

ABSTRACT

A motor-operated handgun for making designs in carpet and the like and for forming cut pile fabrics by hand including mechanical latching arrangement for locking the yarn while the yarn is cut to produce a cut pile face and an adjustable yarn feed mechanism capable of being set to control the number of stitches per inch.

Q 1 Unite States Patent 1151 3,645,219 Jenkins 1 Feb, 29, 1972 [54] HANDGUN FOR MAKING CUT PILE 2,887,076 5/1959 Sterner ..1 12/80 FABRICS AND THE LIKE 3,142,276 7/1964 Schauer ....l12/80 3,144,844 8/1964 Elliott et a]. ..112/80 [721 Invent: Jenkms Dam, 30720 3,225,723 12/1965 Wilkes ..112/80 [22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1970 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler [21] Appl' 87440 AttorneyCameron, Kerkam & Sutton [52] U.S.Cl ..1l2/80 ABSTRACT [51] lnLCl ..D05c 15/08 A motor 0 perated handgun for making designs 1n carpet and 5s FreldofSearch ..112/79 R, 79 A, 80,266,410 the like and for forming cut pile fabrics by hand including mechanical latching arrangement for locking the yarn while [56] References cued the yarn is cut to produce a cut pile face and an adjustable UNITED STATES PATENTS yarnbfeedf rnec:1anism cafiable of being set to control the num ero stltc es per mc 2,753,820 7/1956 Lustig ..l12/80 2,837,045 6/ 1958 Gifford ..1 12/80 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFB29 1912 SHEET 2 BF 3 m QM INVENTOR 0. L. JENKINS BY W LEY/5km zsufforz ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEB 29 m2 SHEET 3 BF 3 mvzu'ron D. L JENKINS BY gmwa/ Jy/zlam (250/2012 ATTOR N EYS HANDGUN FOR MAKING CUT PILE FABRICS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a motor-operated handgun for making cut pile fabrics and for making designs in a base material to produce carpets or rugs of special effect and styling. The invention is particularly adapted for application in the tufted textile industry.

2. Description of the Prior Art Hand-guided motor-driven carpet guns have been in use for some time. Such devices take various forms and depend in many instances on the particular manner in which the gun is to function or for which the gun is employed. For example, a mending gun is used to mend small skips made in a tufted carpet when yarn breaks on large tufting machines. Such a gun makes only a loop pile and does not include any provision for cutting loops to fabricate a cut pile. Thus, with a mending gun, it is impossible to fabricate a cut pile carpet.

Handguns for forming cut pile fabrics are known as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,276 issued to A. Schauer, July 28, I965. In operation of handguns of the type shown in the above-noted Schauer patent, a strand of thread or yarn that forms the pile face of the fabric is conveniently passed through slots provided in the gun barrel and through the eye of a needle. The yarn is picked up or carried by a reciprocating assembly including a cutter through the backing material. Cutting of the pile loop is effected by the cutter and is incident either to the continued rearward movement of the needle while the reciprocating assembly is substantially stationary or to the continued forward movement of the reciprocating assembly while the needle is either stationary or moving rearwardly in accordance with the adjustment of the apparatus. The yarn is maintained in place by the pressure of a foot member and the engaging force of the backing fabric through which the yarn is passed. Although means are provided for preventing oversupply of the yarn through the needle eye from the yarn source, there is no locking pressure on the yarn to hold it taut in the needle while it is cut and difficulty may be experienced in maintaining the nap or pile of the fabric at the same height.

Another disadvantage to known forms of handguns is that spacing of the stitches is dependent on the attentiveness and ability of the gun operator. Where the number of stitches per inch provides a packed fabric construction, variations in stitch spacing may not be too noticeable. However, where stitch spacing is for a loosely packed construction, variations therein are readily noticeable and fabrics having noticeable variations in stitch spacing often must be sold as seconds. It should also be apparent that reliance on the individual attentiveness and abilities of gun operators is not condusive to reproduction of consistently identical patterns or designs.

Other representative forms of handguns used in the textile industry are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,533,420; 2,753,820; 2,887,076; 3,372,661;and 3,430,590.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an improvement over the type handguns described in the afore-noted patents, particularly as to the means for cutting the pile loops, maintaining tension on the yarn and means for controlling the yarn spacing or stitches per inch of the pile face, and enables the making of a produce wherein the cut pile face is substantially uniform in height rather than ragged or irregular, and the number of stitches per inch will be constant.

These and other advantages are provided by the present invention which is embodied in an improved hand-guided motor-driven carpet-making punch gun having means for locking the yarn while it is cut and means for regulating the number of stitches per inch of the face yarn forming the cut pile fabric.

The present invention provides an improved hand-guided motor-driven carpet-making punch gun that is light in weight, sturdy in construction, including but relatively few moving parts. The gun embodying the present invention is economical to manufacture and is constructed to give long and dependable service, and can be readily employed by nonskilled operators to make various patterns and designs easily and quickly.

In carrying out the invention in one form thereof, the handgun comprises means for forming loops by an operation similar to that used in tufting fabrics in that a needle is projected through the backing fabric. In this instance, however, the needle itself does not project a loop of the yarn forming the pile face through the fabric, but merely opens a hole or aperture through which a loop of yarn may be projected. The yarn is carried through the hole to form a loop by a reciprocating member which also serves as the cutter. At one point of movement of the reciprocating member in the forward direction to form the loop, a latching mechanism is actuated which locks and prevents further feed of the yarn. The forward end of the reciprocating member includes a knife blade which continues to travel for a fixed distance after the yarn is locked to effect cutting of the looped yarn. The drive arrangement for reciprocating the needle and knife blade is coupled to a ratchet feed mechanism which is adjustable to control the number of stitches per inch of the face yarn by maintaining an even movement of the gun across the base or backing fabric.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarding the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like reference characters identify like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the handgun embodied in the present invention with the drive motor and handle member being shown in cutaway sections;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hand gun embodying the present invention with the drive motor removed;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the needle and knife assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross section, of the gear reduction unit and ratchet drive assembly of the hand gun shown in FIGS. 1-3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. l3, reference character 10 designated generally the handgun of the present invention which includes an outer support or barrel 11 here shown as a rectangular housing. A further part thereof comprises a shoe head 12 which may be threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the forward end 13 (at the right of FIGS. 1-3 as viewed in the drawings and shown most clearly in FIG. 4) of the outer support. Preferably, the shoe head is rectangularly shaped and adapted to slide over the end of barrel 11 and is fastened thereto by the use of one or more setscrews 14. To this end, the shoe head 12 may have its upper corners cut away, as most clearly shown in FIG. 4, as at 15, and a hole threaded through the cutaway sections for reception of the setscrews.

Positioned adjacent to the shoe head and spaced rearwardly therefrom is a flange 16 which also is adapted to slide over the barrel and be secured thereto by setscrews in a conventional manner. Arranged between shoe head 12 and flange 16 is a bracket 17 having an annular opening which is sufficiently large to permit the bracket to freely revolve about the longitudinal axis of the barrel. Bracket 17 is bent backwardly at its lower end as viewed in FIG. 1 to provide a step section to which is fastened a handle member 18 by means of screw 19.

This arrangement provides a convenient way by which one end of the handgun may be steadied and guided by the user.

Shoe head 12 carries a flat baseplate 20. The baseplate supports at its outer end either a ratchet feed mechanism 21 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 or a pressure foot 22 as shown in FIG. 4. Ratchet feed mechanism 21 is used in making straight-line patterns and permits adjustment of the number of stitches per inch of the face yarn. Pressure foot 22 is used in place of the ratchet feed mechanism whenever the handgun is used to make face pattern designs other than straight-line work. Of course, straight-line work can also be done with the pressure foot in place, but then the handgun would be subject to the same disadvantages of prior art devices as aforenoted with respect to controlling the number of stitches per inch of the face yarn.

Baseplate may be independent of the shoe head, but preferably is integral therewith so that the ratchet feed mechanism and pressure foot are interchangeable units.

Ratchet feed mechanism 21 comprises a pair of spiked rollers, 23 and 24, which are mounted to a rotatable shaft 25. Also mounted to shaft 25 is a ratchet wheel 26 positioned between bushing 27 and ratchet arm 28. Ratchet arm 28 has mounted thereto a pawl member 29, one end of which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel for stepping ratchet wheel 26 and thereby drive the spiked rollers 23 and 24. The other end of pawl 29 has conveniently secured thereto a spring 50 which biases the pawl against the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

As should be apparent, spikes 51 spaced about the roller are adapted to engage the base fabric and as the rollers are driven, the handgun is caused to move in a straight line at a fixed and constant speed while the needle assembly is actuated to tuft or stitch yarns in place.

The extent of stepping or rotation of the spiked wheels 23 and 24, and consequently the number of stitches per inch tufted in the base fabric upon each actuating step of the pawl 29 is fixed by setting the stroke of the linkage. This is effected through linkage arm 30 which is mounted between ratchet arm 28 and drive arm 31. To this end, each of the arms 28 and 31 include a plurality of spaced and threaded holes 32 and 33, respectively, which receive mounting screws 52, affixing for linkage arm 30 to thereby provide the means for adjusting the stroke of the ratchet feed mechanism.

The drive arm 31 of the ratchet feed mechanism 21 has one end supported to a rotatable shaft 34 mounted in conventional bushings 35 supported in the housing 36 which houses a speed reducer unit. Shaft 34 is driven from the main drive shaft 37 of the speed reduction unit through a linkage comprising arms 38 and 39, as shown most clearly in FIG. 5. Arm 38 has one end affixed to shaft 34 and its other end pinioned at 40 to the free end of arm 39. Arm 39 is connected at its other end to an offcenter pin 53. Pin 53 extends from ring 41 mounted to driven shaft 37. Drive shaft 37 also has mounted thereto a driven gear 42 and is rotatively supported between its opposite ends in conventional bushing (not shown) in the upper section of the speed reduction unit housing 36. The opposite ends of shaft 37 extend beyond the sidewalls of the housing to provide a drive connection for the needle and knife blade assemblies.

Housing 36 is secured by screws or the like at its front end to a flange 43 formed rigid with the rear end of the barrel 11. At the rear end of the housing 36 is mounted a split plate 44. Plate 44 is suitably secured to the gear box or housing by screws and is open at the center for receiving a substantially cylindrical projection 45 extending forwardly from a prime mover, such as an electric motor 46, as most clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Split plate 44 is sufficiently resilient so that when the cylindrical projection 45 is inserted in the opening of plate 44, the plate may be securely tightened around the cylindn'cal projection by screw 47 which is arranged to force the split portions of the plate toward each other in a well-known manner.

The motor assembly may be of the pistol grip type, substantially equivalent to those used in driving a A-inch drill. It may also include reduction gearing as in common in such devices.

In the present instance motor 45 is arranged to drive a shaft 48 carrying a beveled pinion gear 49 which engages gear 42 when the motor is in its assembled position. It should be readily apparent that the motor 46 is illustrative of any prime mover effective to transmit rotary power to the device.

To effect placement of the yarn in the base fabric, the present invention, as in the case of most tufting handguns, uses a reciprocating needle 60 which serves to provide a hole in the backing fabric through which the yarn forming the face pile of the fabric is introduced. The needle 60 is formed of a substantially semicylindrical shell, open at the bottom portion, as viewed in the drawing, and is provided with a pointed forward end with the point formed by beveling off the shell of the needle as indicated at 61. At its rear end as viewed in the drawings, the needle includes an enlarged substantially rectangular section 62 which is slotted across its base as most clearly shown in FIG. 4 to provide a channel or groove 63 through which a reciprocating yarn carrying and cutting member 64 passes. The enlarged section 62 is supported within an inner rectangular shell support or inner barrel 65 by means of setscrews or the like. Barrel 65 is arranged for reciprocating movement within barrel 1 1 and carries with it needle 60. Member 64 is arranged for reciprocating movement within inner barrel 65.

Yarn 66 for forming the pile of the fabric which the device is adapted to make is supplied from any suitable source through a guide tube 67. From the guide tube the yarn passes through latching slot 69 of plate 90, mechanism 68, slots 69 and 70 in the top walls of outer and inner barrels 11 and 65, respectively, and is worked between needle 60 and reciprocating member 64. Tube 67 secured to a block member 71 which is in turn mounted to the top of the speed reduction unit housing 36.

As hereinbefore noted, inner barrel 65 serves as a carrier for the needle 60 and is reciprocated within the outer barrel 11. To this end, the outer barrel is provided with a relatively long side slot through which an actuating member extends for connection to the drive mechanism. Affixed to one side of barrel 65 is a side post 72 which extends freely through the slot formed in the outer barrel. Post 72 supports a bearing block 74 which is in turn rigidly but adjustably supported to one end of a connecting rod 75. The other end of connecting rod 75 is connected to bearing block 76 which is similar to block 74. Both blocks are mounted for limited pivotal movement and include conventional threaded adjustment arrangements to allow for lengthwise adjustments of the parts in the desired position. Rearward bearing block 76 is mounted to a crank arm 77 supported on one end of the main drive shaft 37.

Supported at the other side of drive shaft 37 is a similar crank arm driving arrangement comprising crank arm 78 having connected thereto bearing block 79. Bearing block 79 is adjustably connected to a two-piece linkage or connecting rod 80 connected at the other end to bearing block 81. Block 81 is secured to a side post 82 which extends freely through a relatively long longitudinal side slot 83 in the outer barrel 11. The inner barrel 65 also is provided with a similar side slot or opening adjacent slot 83. Post 82 extends freely through both side slots and is affixed to a substantially rectangular bullet or cam member 84. Member 84 is adapted to be reciprocated within the inner barrel 65 and supports at its forward end the forwardly extending reciprocating member 64, which may be threaded into a suitable threaded hole provided in the member 84.

Member 64 is mounted for longitudinal movement in a path that substantially closes the lower shell of the needle, and to this end passes through the channel 63 provided in section 62. Member 64 is of flattened or rectangular construction and its outer tip 85 is bifurcated and tapered to provide a knife blade for cutting of the face yarn.

The yarn latching mechanism 68 advantageously provides an arrangement which enables the making of a cut pile face of substantially uniform height by preventing excessive yam from being drawn from the creel and holding the yarn while it is cut. It should be noted that the same member 64 that carries the yarn through the hole in the base fabric formed by the needle, also cuts the yarn. To this end, the yam-latching mechanism is actuated by the cam 84 supporting the reciprocably driven knife blade just prior to cutting of the yarn so that the same amount or height of yarn extends beyond the backing fabric on each cut.

Refenring again to FIGS. 1-3, outer barrel 1 1 includes a topwardly disposed longitudinal slot 69 over which is secured a slotted bracket 90. Secured to bracket 90 is an upwardly extending channel shape member 91 within which is pivotally supported a pair of link members 92 and 93. Link 92 is a cam follower and is preferably L- or arcuate-shaped. Link 92 is pivoted at one end by pin 94 so that its free end drops freely through the top side slots of the inner and outer barrels 11 and 65. Cam 93 is rectangular in shape and pivotally supported for movement within the bracket 91 by pin 95.

Supported to the top of bracket 91 is a screw adjust 96 which extends into the channel. By selectively setting the limit of the extension of the screw thread, upward movement of cam 93 is controlled or limited. As should be apparent, as knife blade at is reciprocated, the forward end of bullet 84 contacts the lower arm of cam 92 raising it upwardly until yarn 66 is locked between the two members 92, 93. Member 92 contains a V notch in its end to help guide the yarn.

In operation, the yarn is pulled from a cone and passed through the guide tube, between the triggers of the locking mechanism, through the topmost slots of the inner and outer barrels and worked down through the barrels between the needle and the knife blade and over the end 85 of member 64. A slight excess of yarn is drawn out to start the operation. The gun is placed against the backing fabric until the spiked wheels firmly engage the backing material and the point of needle 60 penetrates the fabric. When the drive motor is actuated, the inner barrel carrying the needle is reciprocated, the spiked wheels rotate driving the gun in a straight line, and, simultaneously, the knife blade carried within the inner barrel is reciprocated.

Initial movement of the knife blade carries the yarn through the hole made by the needle. No cutting takes place as the yarn passes freely through the latching mechanism 68. As the bullet 84 reaches the lower cam or trigger 92, the trigger is pushed up against the upper trigger 93 locking the yarn between the elements. The knife blade continues its movement for a short distance and cuts the yarn. The additional movement is about one-eighth of an inch, but may be more depending on the length of cut pile face desired. In the event that it is desired to fabricate designs other than straight lines, the ratchet feed mechanism may be disconnected, and the shoe head of FIG. 3 used in place of the shoe head shown in FIGS. 1-3.

While the invention has been shown and described in one principal form thereof, many modifications thereto will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all forms of the invention as broadly as the state of the art permits.

iclaim:

1. A hand-guided carpet gun for forming cut pile fabrics by projecting a loop of pile yarn through a backing fabric and cutting the yarn comprising an outer support forming a part of a frame for the hand gun, a needle-carrying member carried by and mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to said support and provided with a needle having a pointed forward end for piercing the backing fabric, a yarn projection assembly carried by and mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to said needle-carrying member and also arranged for longitudinal reciprocatory movement with respect to said support in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of reciprocatory movement of said needle-carrying member, said yarn projection assembly including a cam member slidingly supported within said needle-carrying member and a longitudinally extending member having a for ward end portion disposed so as to be projectable through an aperture in the backing fabric formed by the needle once the needle is projected and extends therethrough and a rearward end mounted to said cam member, said longitudinally extending member having a notched forward end for gripping the pile yarn and projecting the pile yarn through said aperture, at least one edge portion of said notched end being sharpened to form a knife edge, a common actuating means, first means driven by said actuating means for reciprocating said needlecarrying member to cause it to repeatedly penetrate the backing fabric, second means driven by said actuating means in time relation to the reciprocation of said needle for reciprocating said yarn projection assembly to cause said assembly to project the pile yarn through said aperture, yarnlatching means adapted to be actuated in response to forward movement of said yarn projection assembly to lock said yarn and prevent further projection of said yarn through said aperture, said latching means being supported by said outer support and being positioned such that said latching means is actuated prior to said yarn projection assembly reaching the limit of its forward reciprocatory movement whereby continued forward movement of said yarn projection assembly shears the pile yarn projecting through said aperture.

2. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 1 further including means for controlling the number of stitches per inch of said pile yarn, said means being driven by said common actuating means.

3. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer support is formed as a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway therein for receiving said needle carrying member, said needle-carrying member being formedas a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway for receiving said yarn projection assembly, said outer support housing having longitudinally extending slots in opposite sides thereof, said needle-carrying member housing having a slot in at least one side thereof positioned adjacent one of the slots of said outer support housing, said first means driven by said actuating means including means extending through the other of said slots in said outer support housing for connecting said. needle-carrying member to the actuating means, said secondmeans driven by said actuating means including means extending through the adjacent slots for connecting the yarn projection assembly to the actuating means.

4. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latching means is mounted to one side of said outer sup port, said outer support and needle-carrying member having adjacent longitudinal slots in one of the sides thereof arranged? such that said yarn may be passed through said latching means, through said adjacent slots, through said needle and over said notch for projection through the backing fabric.

5. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for controlling the stitches per inch comprises aratchet feed mechanism including gripping means adapted to engage the backing fabric.

6. A hand-guided carpet as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gripping means is a spiked roller.

7. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 6 further including a rotatable shaft, means mounting said roller on said shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft and pawl means operatively engaging said ratchet wheel and adapted to be actuated by said common actuating means.

8. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 5 wherein said outer support is formed as a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway therein for receiving said needlecarrying member, said needlecarrying member being formed as a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway for receiving said yarn projection assembly, said outer support housing having longitudinally extending slots in opposite sides.

tuating means including means extending through the other of said slots in said outer support housing for connecting said port, said outer support and needle-carrying member having adjacent longitudinal slots in one of the sides thereof arranged such that said yarn may be passed through said latching means, through said adjacent slots, through said needle and over said notch for projection through the backing fabric.

t I! 8 i I 

1. A hand-guided carpet gun for forming cut pile fabrics by projecting a loop of pile yarn through a backing fabric and cutting the yarn comprising an outer support forming a part of a frame for the hand gun, a needle-carrying member carried by and mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to said support and provided with a needle having a pointed forward end for piercing the backing fabric, a yarn projection assembly carried by and mounted for reciprocatory movement with respect to said needle-carrying member and also arranged for longitudinal reciprocatory movement with respect to said support in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of reciprocatory movement of said needle-carrying member, said yarn projection assembly including a cam member slidingly supported within said needle-carrying member and a longitudinally extending member having a forward end portion disposed so as to be projectable through an aperture in the backing fabric formed by the needle once the needle is projected and extends therethrough and a rearward end mounted to said cam member, said longitudinally extending member having a notched forward end for gripping the pile yarn and projecting the pile yarn through said aperture, at least one edge portion of said notched end being sharpened to form a knife edge, a common actuating means, first means driven by said actuating means for reciprocating said needle-carrying member to cause it to repeatedly penetrate the backing fabric, second means driven by said actuating means in time relation to the reciprocation of said needle for reciprocating said yarn projection assembly to cause said assembly to project the pile yarn through said aperture, yarnlatching means adapted to be actuated in response to forward movement of said yarn projection assembly to lock said yarn and prevent further projection of said yarn through said aperture, said latching means being supported by said outer support and being positioned such that said latching means is actuated prior to said yarn projection assembly reaching the limit of its forward reciprocatory movement whereby continued forward movement of said yarn projection assembly shears the pile yarn projecting through said aperture.
 2. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 1 further including means for controlling the number of stitches per inch of said pile yarn, said means being driven by said common actuating means.
 3. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer support is formed as a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway therein for receiving said needle-carrying member, said needle-carrying member being formed as a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway for receiving said yarn projection assembly, said outer support housing having longitudinally extending slots in opposite sides thereof, said needle-carrying member housing having a slot in at least one side thereof positioned adjacent one of the slots of said outer support housing, said first means driven by said actuating means including means extending through the other of said slots in said outer support housing for connecting said needle-carrying member to the actuating means, said second means driven by said actuating means including means extending through the adjacent slots for connecting the Yarn projection assembly to the actuating means.
 4. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 1, wherein said latching means is mounted to one side of said outer support, said outer support and needle-carrying member having adjacent longitudinal slots in one of the sides thereof arranged such that said yarn may be passed through said latching means, through said adjacent slots, through said needle and over said notch for projection through the backing fabric.
 5. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for controlling the stitches per inch comprises a ratchet feed mechanism including gripping means adapted to engage the backing fabric.
 6. A hand-guided carpet as set forth in claim 5 wherein said gripping means is a spiked roller.
 7. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 6 further including a rotatable shaft, means mounting said roller on said shaft, a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft and pawl means operatively engaging said ratchet wheel and adapted to be actuated by said common actuating means.
 8. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 5 wherein said outer support is formed as a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway therein for receiving said needle-carrying member, said needle-carrying member being formed as a housing having a substantially rectangular guideway for receiving said yarn projection assembly, said outer support housing having longitudinally extending slots in opposite sides thereof, said needle-carrying member housing having a slot in at least one side thereof positioned adjacent one of the slots of said outer support housing, said first means driven by said actuating means including means extending through the other of said slots in said outer support housing for connecting said needle-carrying member to the actuating means, said second means driven by said actuating means including means extending through the adjacent slots for connecting the yarn projection assembly to the actuating means.
 9. A hand-guided carpet gun as set forth in claim 8 wherein said latching means is mounted to one side of said outer support, said outer support and needle-carrying member having adjacent longitudinal slots in one of the sides thereof arranged such that said yarn may be passed through said latching means, through said adjacent slots, through said needle and over said notch for projection through the backing fabric. 